Chalcot Crescent, a picturesque street in Primrose Hill, London, has become a popular destination for film tourists due to its appearance in the Paddington film franchise. However, this has sparked a dispute between local residents and Airbnb over a competition offering three families the opportunity to stay in a house on the street. Airbnb are renovating the property to resemble the film set, which has led to protests from residents due to concerns over noise, parking, and the street’s issues with over-tourism. This dispute has been dubbed “the straw breaking the camel’s back” by a local Labour councillor. In response, Airbnb has stated intentions of making a “sizeable donation” to the Primrose Hill Community Association.
The dispute at Chalcot Crescent is the latest in a string of conflicts between local residents and popular film locations. The Glenfinnan Viaduct in Scotland, known for its appearance in Harry Potter, has experienced a dramatic increase in tourists visiting the area, causing issues with gridlock traffic and public urination. Similarly, the village of Bampton in Oxfordshire, famous as the backdrop for Downton Abbey, was once overrun with coach-loads of tourists who would spend a short amount of time in the area without contributing much to the local economy. In order to manage these issues, long-term solutions have been proposed by experts such as spreading out visitors or providing more spend opportunities in smaller areas.
However, films being shot at real street locations have also helped boost the local economy. The British Film Institute (BFI) estimated that film-related screen tourism brought almost £900m to the UK economy in 2019 through increased spend at attractions, hotels and restaurants. In fact, residents of Barry Island in south Wales welcomed the recent filming of the Gavin & Stacey Christmas special, as it brought significant benefits to the local economy.
In the case of Chalcot Crescent, Airbnb has stated its intention to work with the local community to find a resolution and has emphasized that the temporary renovation will be returned to its pre-competition status after the three-day stays. However, it is likely that the street’s Paddington association will continue to attract tourists, which may lead to further disputes among the residents in the future
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